TABLE 5.9.

1 Key Parameters Dealing with the Branching of the Systemic Circulatory System

Parameter
Vessel Number Radius Area per Unit: Aggregate Cross-sectional ,v. 5 Q /A Single Unit Flow
(cm) A 5 πa (cm ) Area A 5 n πa (cm ) (cm s ) q 5 Q /n (cm s )
Aorta 1 1.1 4 4 21 83
Arteries 8000 5 3 10 8 3 10 64 1.3 1 3 10
Arterioles 1 3 10 25 3 10 2 3 10 200 0.4 8.3 3 10
Capillaries 1 3 10 4 3 10 5.0 3 10 5000 1.7 3 10 8.3 3 10
Venules 4 3 10 5 3 10 7.9 3 10 3160 2.6 3 10 2.1 3 10
Veins 8000 0.09 1 3 10 800 0.1 1 3 10
Vena Cava 2 1.4 6 12 6.9 41

The area per unit is the cross-sectional area calculated from the radius as A 5 πa where a is the radius. The aggregate cross-sectional area was calculated by
multiplying the cross-sectional area per vessel times the number of vessels of that generation or order: A 5 n πa where n is the number of vessels at that
generation. The average velocity of blood flow within the vessel was calculated as ,v. 5 Q /A where A is the aggregate cross-sectional area. The single
unit flow is the average blood flow through a single vessel of the size described.
For each category of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins there are several orders of vessels. The calculations shown are for a representative
generation of the approximate size indicated.